- Books and stamps both play an important role to promote literature, art and culture:- Postmaster General Krishna Kumar Yadav
- It is being held from November 30 to December 8 at the Riverfront Event Center, Paldi, under the Vanche Gujarat 2.0 initiative
- Entry is free for all visitors, with prior registration required
- To register and access various literary and cultural programs at the Book Festival, visit https://forms.gle/craAgWAgEJRHhPcb7
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, DEC 4
With the vision of nurturing intellectual competence in the next generation and strengthening society through the promotion of reading and literature, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Vanche Gujarat’ Abhiyan. Under the Vanche Gujarat 2.0 initiative, the first edition of Ahmedabad International Book Fair 2024 was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel on Saturday.
It is being held from November 30 to December 8 at the Riverfront Event Center, Paldi under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, National Book Trust and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
Every stamp is having hidden story behind it: Postmaster General
Stating that of the 340 stalls, the stall of the India Post has also become a center of attraction, Postmaster General Krishna Kumar Yadav, on Wednesday said, “This stall is an effort to spread awareness among the children and youth about the collection and importance of Stamps which plays an important role in spreading knowledge and literature. Various types of Stamps, Special covers, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple’ s scented stamp set, Khadi postcards, Alphabetical Philately Books, coffee mugs, T-shirts and other Philatelic products have been displayed here. Facility of the letter box is also available here for the children sending letters saving their experiences after visiting the book fair. This scene shows the children’s creativity and their curiosity towards the postal service. In the book fair, various selfie points including the one with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having the book of Constitution of India are also the center of attraction for the youth.”
Postmaster General of North Gujarat Region Krishna Kumar Yadav said, “The book fair provides a platform to connect people with literature and culture. At the same time, the Postal Department is also promoting philately as hobby among youth to explore about their culture and traditions. Every stamp is having hidden story behind it and there is a need to connect young generation with this story. The ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi, born on the soil of Gujarat, gained prestige all over the world with his thoughts and deeds, that is why maximum countries in the world issued Stamps on Mahatma Gandhi.”
Yadav pointed out that stamp is actually a little ambassador, who visits different countries and makes them aware of various civilization, culture and heritage. This event is an important opportunity to promote interest in knowledge, curiosity and literary and educational sensitivity among the people.
MM Sheikh, Assistant Director of Postal services said, “The facility of ‘My Stamp’ and ‘Philately Deposit Account’ is also available in the book fair. Under the “My Stamp” service, people can print their photo, a special scene, or a special design on a customized stamp. A My Stamp sheet of 12 stamps is made for just ₹300. One can get himself or family’s photo printed on my Stamp for various memorable moments including birthday, weddings, anniversary and retirement. By opening a ‘Philatelic Deposit Account’ for just ₹ 200, one can get stamps and other philatelic items at door step. This is a profitable and value added investment opportunity for those interested in Philately. The visitors are very much liking the postal products available at the stall.”
Key destination for book lovers and literature enthusiasts
With over 100 literary programs, more than 300 publisher stalls, and books from over 1,000 publishers, the festival will be a key destination for book lovers and literature enthusiasts from across Gujarat and beyond. It will also feature engaging attractions like the Author Forum, Pragya Shibir, Gyan Ganga, Rangmanch, and Abhikalp, offering a rich cultural experience for all visitors.
The Ahmedabad International Book Festival will host speakers from countries, including Spain, Sri Lanka, Poland, Denmark, Scotland, Singapore, UAE, and celebrated Gujarati authors. Renowned dignitaries such as Padma Shri Raghuvir Chaudhary, Padma Shri Kumarpal Desai, Padma Shri Jagdish Trivedi, Padma Shri Shahbuddin Rathod, Monika Halan, Ram Mori, E.V. Ramakrishnan, Saurabh Bajaj, William Dalrymple, Guillermo Rodríguez Martín, Monica Kovalesco-Sumovska, and Matt Johnson will share insights on a range of literary topics.
Free entry
Entry is free for all visitors, with prior registration required. To register and access various literary and cultural programs at the Book Festival, visit https://forms.gle/craAgWAgEJRHhPcb7.
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